Chinning apparatus with upwardly braised foot platform

ABSTRACT

An exercising apparatus for performing chinning exercises including a horizontal bar and a foot platform that is supported by cables and yieldingly urged upwardly to assist the person performing the exercise. Means are supplied for guiding the foot platform for vertical movement.

United States Patent Fred Fullerlon. Jr.

[2607 Beech Duly. Detroit, Mich. 48239 752,525

Aug. 14, 1968 July 13, I971 Inventor Appl. No, Filed Patented CHINNING APPARATUS WITH UPWARDLY BRAISED FOOT PLATFORM l7 Cllllll, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl.v 272/62, 272/83 (A 272/DlG. 5 Int. Cl A63!) 1/00 Fieldolsearcll 272/6l,62, 63, 83 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 434,77l 8/1890 Dowd 272/83 1,983.9ll l2/l934 Luppertm. 272/83 3,235,255 2/l966 Leflar U 272/81 3.457,!86 7/l969 Trent 272/62 X FOREIGN PATENTS [58,684 6/l904 Germany Primary Examiner Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind At1omeyBarnes, Kisselle, Raisch 84 Choate ABSTRACT: An exercising apparatus for performing chinning exercises including a horizontal bar and a foot platform thal is suppurted by cables and yieldingly urged upwardly to assist the person performing the exercise. Means are supplied for guiding the foot platform for vertical movement.

cising apparatus wherein the exercise of chinning is facilitated m by providing a yielding force that assists the person performing the exercise in the upward movement; to provide such an apparatus wherein the yielding force can be varied; to provide an apparatus that can be adapted to conventional chinning bars; and to provide an apparatus which is relatively simple and low in cost.

in the drawings:

FIG. I is a fragmentary front elevational view of an exercising apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 4-4 in HQ. 3.

Referring to FIG. I, the apparatus embodying the invention is adapted to be placed and utilized in association with a conventional horizontal chinning bar II] that is supported by a frame which includes brackets 11 on vertical wood beams 12 that are mounted on the wall 13. This portion of the apparatus is conventional and can be found in gymnasiurns and the like.

The frame includes a crossbeam 14 mounted on the upper ends of the vertical members 12 and a plate 15 having a slot 16 is telescoped downwardly over a bolt 17 that normally holds the vertical member on the wall. This serves as a base for supporting the apparatus which basically includes a foot platform I8 that is yieldingly urged upwardly so that when the person grasps the chinning bar l0, s yielding force is provided to assist in the movement. The yielding force may be varied as presently described.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, brackets 20, 21 are provided over the plate 15 and are fixed to the beam 14 by bolts 22, 23. The brackets 20, 21 rotatably support a shaft 24. A

sheave 25. 26 is fixed to each end of the shafi and cables 27, 28 are wound on the sheaves 25, 26 and extend downwardly and are fixed to upstanding brackets 29, 30 on the foot platform 18. The cables 27, 28 extend downwardly through openings in horizontal portions of the brackets 20. 2t in which antifriction fitments 3! are positioned.

A collar 32 is fixed by a setscrew 33 adjacent one end of the shaft 24 and one end of a coil spring 34 is threaded onto the collar. The other end of the spring 34 is threaded onto a bracket 35 that is, in turn, fixed by bolts 36 to a bracket 37 which has a gear 38 fixed thereto that engages a worm 39 rotatably mounted on a bracket 40. A tube 41 is provided within the spring to prevent it from becoming distorted. By this arrangement, rotation of the worm 39 will vary the tension on the spring 34. A wheel 42 frictionally engages the 'bracket 37 to provide indicia including a fixed pointer 43a and numbers 43b on the wheel to indicate the relative tension on the spring 34.

A stabilizing bar 44 is fixed to the platform and extends upwardly into a tube 45 that is fastened by brackets 46, 47 to the beam 1.4 and a crossbeam 48, respectively. An adjustable stop 49 is provided to serve as a limit for the upward movement of the platform 18. Additional stops 50 are provided on the cables for engagement with the brackets 20, 2t. Rollers 51 are rotated about horizontal axes on the platform i8 and engage resilient rubber strips 52 affixed to the wall.

In use. the person steps on the platform l8 and his weight forces it down. He grasps the bar 10 and as he lifts himself upwardly. the platform 18 provides a yielding forte assisting his upward movement. As a person continues exercising on succeslive days and builds up strength, he may lessen the tension on the spring thereby lessening the yielding force that is provided by the platform.

I claim:

1. In an exercising apparatus, the combination comprising a frame,

a horizontal bar mounted on said frame and adapted to be grasped by a person performing exercise,

a foot platform,

means for supporting said bar above said platform,

means for supporting and guiding said foot platform for vertical movement,

telescoping means for stabilizing said platform in its vertical movement extending between said frame and said foot platform,

biasing means mounted above said bar and yieldingly urging said foot platform upwardly.

2. The combination set forth in claim l wherein said telescoping means for stabilizing said foot platform for vertical movement comprises telescoping members.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said biasing means yieldingly urging said foot platform upwardly comprises cables connected at one end to said platform,

sheaves rotatably mounted about generally horizontal axes around which said cables are wound,

and spring means tending to rotate said sheaves in a direction to move said platform upwardly.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said sheaves are mounted on a common shaft.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring means comprises a helically wound spring having one end thereof fixed to said shaft and the other end thereof fixed to a support.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 including means for varying the tension of said spring.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 including indicia means for indicating the relative tension on said spring.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means defining a vertical surface adjacent said platform,

said platform having antifriction means thereon engaging said vertical surface to assist in guiding the platform in its vertical movement.

9. The combination set forth in claim I wherein said means yieldingly urging said foot platform upwardly comprises cables connected at one end to said platform,

sheaves rotatably mounted about generally horizontal axes on said upper ends of said vertical members around which said cables are wound,

and spring means tending to rotate said sheaves in a direction to move said platform upwardly 10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including a horizontal beam on the upper ends of said vertical members, and a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted there n,

said sheaves being mounted on said shaft.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said spring means comprises a helically wound spring having one end thereof fixed to said shaft and the other end thereof fixed to said horizontal beam.

i2. The combination set forth in claim 11 including means for varying the tension of said spring.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 including indicia means for indicating the relative tension on said spring.

14. in an exercising apparatus, the combination comprising a frame including a pair of vertical members adapted to be fixed to a wall.

a horizontal bar extending between said vertical members and adapted to be grasped by a person performing exerelse,

a foot platform.

means adjacent the upper ends of said vertical member above said platform for supporting said foot platform for vertical movement,

telescoping means for stabilizing said platform in its vertical movement extending between said frame and said foot platform,

17. In an exercising apparatus, the combination comprising a horizontal bar supported between two vertical members for performing chinning exercises,

a foot platform below said bar with biasing means for normally urging said platform in a vertical direction towards said bar,

and means for guiding said platform in a vertical direction Comprising rollable antifriction means on said platform and resilient strips mounted along the bar supporting vertical members for engaging said rollable antifriction means. 

1. In an exercising apparatus, the combination comprising a frame, a horizontal bar mounted on said frame and adapted to be grasped by a person performing exercise, a foot platform, means for supporting said bar above said platform, means for supporting and guiding said foot platform for vertical movement, telescoping means for stabilizing said platform in its vertical movement extending between said frame and said foot platform, biasing means mounted above said bar and yieldingly urging said foot platform upwardly.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said telescoping means for stabilizing said foot platform for vertical movement comprises telescoping members.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said biasing means yieldingly urging said foot platform upwardly comprises cables connected at one end to said platform, sheaves rotatably mounted about generally horizontal axes around which said cables are wound, and spring means tending to rotate said sheaves in a direction to move said platform upwardly.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said sheaves are mounted on a common shaft.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said spring means comprises a helically wound spring having one end thereof fixed to said shaft and the other end thereof fixed to a support.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 5 including means for varying the tension of said spring.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 6 including indicia means for indicating the relative tension on said spring.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means defining a vertical surface adjacent said platform, said platform having antifriction means thereon engaging said vertical surface to assist in guiding the platform in its vertical movement.
 9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means yieldingly urging said foot platform upwardly comprises cables connected at one end to said platform, sheaves rotatably mounted about generally horizontal axes on said upper ends of said vertical members around which said cables are wound, and spring means tending to rotate said sheaves in a direction to move said platform upwardly
 10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including a horizontal beam on the upper ends of said vertical members, and a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted thereon, said sheaves being mounted on said shaft.
 11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said spring means comprises a helically wound spring having one end thereof fixed to said shaft and the other end thereof fixed to said horizontal beam.
 12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including means for varying the tension of said spring.
 13. The combination set forth in claim 12 including indicia means for indicating the relative tension on said spring.
 14. In an exercising apparatus, the combination comprising a frame including a pair of vertical members adapted to be fixed to a wall, a horizontal bar extending between said vertical members and adapted to be grasped by a person performing exercise, a foot platform, means adjacent the upper eNds of said vertical member above said platform for supporting said foot platform for vertical movement, telescoping means for stabilizing said platform in its vertical movement extending between said frame and said foot platform, biasing means mounted above said bar and yieldingly urging said foot platform upwardly.
 15. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said telescoping means for stabilizing said foot platform for vertical movement comprises a telescoping member fixed to said platform and a telescoping member fixed to said vertical members.
 16. The combination set forth in claim 14 including means defining a vertical surface adjacent said platform, said platform having antifriction means thereon for engaging said vertical surface to assist in guiding the platform in its vertical movement.
 17. In an exercising apparatus, the combination comprising a horizontal bar supported between two vertical members for performing chinning exercises, a foot platform below said bar with biasing means for normally urging said platform in a vertical direction towards said bar, and means for guiding said platform in a vertical direction comprising rollable antifriction means on said platform and resilient strips mounted along the bar supporting vertical members for engaging said rollable antifriction means. 